Adjustable cylinder papermaking machine



Feb. 20, 1962 P. H. GoLDsMlTH 3,021,899

ADJUSTABLE CYLINDER PAPERMAKING MACHINE Filed March 5l, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 w 790/40210140 o o o o 130? d \L75 105 o o 7lo 105% :132 /lo l V' 1' 16 "0";f5 l i l/I/ Feb. 20, 1962 P. H. GoLDsMlTH 3,021,899

ADJUSTABLE CYLINDER PAPERMAKING MACHINE Filed March 3l, 1960 I 3 sheets-sheet 2 Feb. 20, 1962 P. H. GOLDSMITH 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,ym/wey 3,021,399 ADJUSTABLE CYLINDER PAPERMAKING ACME St., Montreal,

4 Claims. (Cl. 162 329) The present invention is concerned with improvements in the construction of adjustable cylinder papermaking machines.

More specifically, the present invention aims to provide au improvement over the type of apparatus shown in United States Patent 2,658,428, November l0, 1953.

In this patent means were 'provided whereby the vat circle was supported from the front and back heads and it was possible to adjust the front, bottom or back circle distances independently without atecting any one of the other distances. These adjustments were accomplished by means of a cross shaft which extended through the circle ends so as to permit simultaneous adjustment of the circle at both the tending and drive sides thereby keeping the circle square with the axis or" the cylinder mold. There were, however, certain disadvantages in the construction described in U.S. Patent 2,658,428. Firstly, it is rather complicated in structure and therefore expensive; secondly, the spaces in the heads of the circle accommodating the adjusting shafts are liable to ll up with stock; and lastly, the extra space required for the adjusting mechanism necessitated a further length'to the cylinder machine which made it more dicult to install.

The present invention aims to provide an improved construction of an adjustable stream-flow vat wherein means are provided to permit adjustment of the vat circle from the exterior of the machine and without the disadvantages mentioned above.

This is accomplished by making the front and back heads of the adjustable circle with end plates which are provided with pins which act as keys and which travel in slots provided in the vat ends which act as keyways. Sealing means are provided at each of the keyway slots from the inside of the vat and adjustment can be made by suitable threaded means with provision being made for visual indication on the outside of the vat to indicate position.

In accordance with the present invention, all adjustments to the circle by movement of the front and back heads are arcuate. The absence of the cross shafts and the elimination of the necessary travel space permits the formation of the front and back heads to be narrower, shortening the necessary overall length ofthe vat.

By the elimination of the cross shafts as shown in U.S. Patent 2,658,428 there are no pockets in either head in which stock can accumulate. Further, the heads being narrow permit ready flow of the stock between them and the vat ends keeping the spaces clean.

Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, particular reference will be made to the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown by way of illustration a preferred embodiment of the present adjustable circle mechanism, and in which:

FIGURE l is a partial plan View of an adjustable cylinder machine according to the invention, the portion of said machine not illustrated being identical.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of FIGURE l along the line 3 3 with the adjustable vat circle shown in its widest position,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of FIGURE 1 corresponding to FIGURE 3 with the adjustable vat circle shown in its closest position.

ice

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of FIGURE 2 along the line 5 5 to show the mechanism for adjusting the front head ofthe circle in more detail.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View of FIGURE 2 along the line 6 6 to show the mechanism for adjusting the back head of the circle in more detail.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional View of FIGURE 2 along the line '7 7 to show the attachment of the back head of the vat circle to the adjustable sliding plate in more detail.

FIGURE 8 is a crosssectional View of FIGURE 2 along the line 8 8 to show the mechanism for adjusting the bottom portion of the vat circle.

With particular reference to FIGURES 1 4 of the drawing, there is shown a papermaking cylinder machine having a novel vat construction embodying an adjustable vat circle of the type shown in U.S. Patent 2,658,428, November 10, 1953, with further improvements in the mechanism for making the circle adjustment possible.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, the reference numeral 40 designates generally the vat and reference numeral 4l the mold. The vat 4t) is rectangular iu plan and at the tending side, FIGURE 2, comprises a longitudinal base member 42, the drive side (not shown) having a generally similar base member 43. End wall members 44, 45 are secured on top of the base member 42 and similar end members 46, 47 are secured on top of the base member 43. Reference numeral 48 designates the side wall on the tending side and reference numeral 49 designates the side wall on the driving side shown only diagrammatically in FIGURES 3 and 4. The specific construction of the vat 40 and the mold 4l including the internal construction thereof does not form part of the present invention and accordingly is not shown in detail. As previously mentioned, the applicants prior patent, U.S. 2,658,428, November l0, 1953, illustrates and describes a vat and mold construction of this type.

The main feature of the present invention resides in the means whereby the vat circle is adjusted and therefore this portion of the machine will be described in detail.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, the numeral 58 designates a iixed outer circle which is supported between the base members 42, i3 and the end wall portions 44, 47, the circle being substantially concentric with the cylinder from an inlet 59, around to a point 60 from which point the circle bulges outwardly into a portion 61 of smaller radius. f

Reference numeral 62 designates an inner vat circle formed of flexible sheet material, preferably stainless steel, Monel metal, or bronze. At its left end, FIGURES 4 and 5, the sheet is looped to provide a teardrop formation or front head 63 the outer ends of which are closed by cover plates 64a, 64b. The cover plates 64a, 64b include tapped openings 65 and pins 66a, 66h are mounted in these openings at each end. vThe vat side walls 48, 49 are slotted as indicated at 67a, 67b the slots being slightly arcuate in outline. in order to cover the slots 67a, 67]), slide plates 63a, 6811 are provided With cylindrical sleeves 69a, 69h, welded in place which are adapted to slidably fit through the vat wall slots 67a, 67b. The vat circle pins 66a, 661), t through the sleeves 69a, 68h and act as keys for the movement of the front head 63, the vat wall slots 67a, 67b acting as keyways.

For the purpose of the present description, reference will be made only to the arrangement on the tending side as shown in FlGURE 5, it being understood that the drive side of the arrangement is identical. As shown most clearly in FIGURE 2, a locknut 70a is threadably fitted over the sleeve 69a and a locknut 71a is engaged with the threaded end of the pin 66a. The locknut 70a is of a greater diameter than the width of the slot 67a and acts as a slide member along the exterior of the vat side wall 48. The sleeve 69b lits through a sleeve bearing 80a which is retained in position by a locknut 81a threadably engaged with the threaded end of the sleeve 6%. The sleeve bearing 80a is also of greater diameter than the width of the slot 67 and accordingly acts as a slide in a similar manner to the locknut 70a.

In order to provide means for adjusting the position of the pins 66a, 66h in the slot 67a and consequently the front end 63, a threaded shaft 90a is mounted on the side wall 48 by connection with a ratchet member 91a mounted between supports 92a. The upper end of the shaft 90a is connected to the sleeve bearing 80a so as to prevent rotation of the shaft 90a and a ratchet pawl handle 93a is operatively connected to the ratchet member 91a so that it can be rotated in either direction raising or lowering the shaft 90a. As shown most clearly in FIGURE 2, a suitable scale 94 is provided on the portion of the vat wall 48 bordering the slot 67a so that the position of the vat circle front head can be determined visually from the exterior of the machine.

The arrangement previously described is adapted to provide a means of causing an inward and upward movement of the front head 63 and will not substantially affect the bottom portion of the inner circle as indicated at 57 nor will it affect the circle back head 75. These portions are adjusted by the arrangement shown on the right-hand side of the vat wall 48 which will now be described in detail.

The back head 75 of the vat circle is formed to the somewhat rectangular outline shown in FlGURES 3 and 4, cover plates 76a, 76h are welded on to form a closed end in a similar manner to the front head 63. Again the description will refer to the tending side of the machine, it being understood that the arrangement on the drive side is identical.

The cover plates 76a, 76b are provided with tapped openings 77a, 77b and referring to the plate 76a shown in FIGURE 6, pins 78a, 78b are mounted in these openings to serve as keys extending through a slightly arcuate slot 79a provided in a slide plate 101 positioned on the inner side of the vat side wall 48 so as to mask an irregular opening 102. The plate 101 is mounted for sliding movement relative to the wall opening 102 by bolts 103, the heads of which protrude through arcuate slots 105:1, 105b provided in the vat Wall 48 at each side of the opening 102. As in the arrangement described for adjustment of the circle front head 63, a sealing plate 140a of slightly arcuate outline is mounted between the cover plate 76a andthe slide plate 101.

The sealing plate 140e is provided with cylindrical sleeves 169e, 16% and the pins 78a, 78h sldably iit through these sleeves as previously described. The sleeve 169e being retained by a locknut 170e and a locknut 171e is engaged with the threaded end of the pin 78u while the sleeve 169b tits through a sleeve bearing 18001. The sleeve bearing 180e is retained in position by a locknut 181:1 threadably engaged with the threaded end of the sleeve 169b.

This arrangement permits sliding movement of the pins 78a, 7811 in an arcuate line relative to the plate 101 and consequently an inward and upward adjustment to the circle back head 75. The adjusting movement is imparted to the pins 78a, 7 8b by an arrangement similar to that described in connection with the circle front head 63. A threaded shaft 198.41 is mounted on the plate 101 by threaded connection with a ratchet member 191a mounted for rotation between supports 192a. The supports 192a are mounted on an offset support frame 18951 welded to the plate 101 at the end remote from the supports 192:1 with the other end extending above and free to slide over the portions of the vat wall 4S surrounding the irregular opening 102. The upper end of the shaft 19061 is connected to the sleeve bearing 180:1 so as to prevent rotation of the shaft 19th: and a ratchet handle 193ais operatively connected to the ratchet member 19111 so that it can be rotated in either direction raising or lowering the threaded shaft 191m, see FIGURE 6.

The movement of the pins 78a, 78b relative to the plate 101 will not substantially aiect the bottom portion 57 of the vat circle. The adjustment of this portion is accomplished by moving the entire plate 101 in an upward, slightly arcuate movement as guided by the bolts 103 acting as keys in the slots 105g, 105b provided in the vat wall 48. The movement of the plate 101 is created by the arrangement shown most clearly in FIGURES 2 and S. The plate 101 is provided with a further tapped opening and a pin 121 is mounted in this opening so as to extend through a sleeve 122 also mounted on the plate 101. The sleeve 122 extends through a sleeve bearing 250 and this is retained in position by a locknut 270a engaged with the threaded end of the sleeve 122. A similar arrangement of threaded shaft 29011, ratchet member 29111, supports 292:1 fixed to the vat wall 48, and ratchet handle 293e is provided with a connection of the shaft 290e to the sleeve bearing 280 so that rotary movement of the ratchet member 291a causes a corresponding up or down movement of the entire plate 101 and therefore permits adjustment of the vat circle bottom portion 57. .As shown in FGURE 2, a scale is provided in the plate 101 bordering the slot 79a and a scale 132 is provided on the slide plate 101 adjacent the inner side of the opening 102. The scales 130, 132 thus provide a visual indication of the adjusted position of the vat circle back head 75 and the bottom portion 57.

The side edges of the inner circle between the heads 63, 75 have a slight clearance with the smooth inner surface of the vat side walls and consequently distortion due to rictional drag is prevented and the inner circle supported only at its ends, always takes a definite contour, i.e. exure curve, as determined by the head adjustments.

As in the construction shown in the applicants U.S. Patent 2,658,428 the inlet opening 59 is defined by a front wall 112 which depends from a rounded formation at the leading edge of the fixed circle S8 and the side walls of the inlet opening are detined by inner face portions of the base elements 42, 43. The lower end of the opening is in connection with a feed section 113, which like the opening 59 extends the full width of the vat. At the juncture of the back head 75 with the main circle there is provided a hinge iitting 114 in which there is engaged a cylindrical rod 116 which carries a sheet or curtain 117 having a horizontal hinge connection 118 with a sheet or curtain 119 which is held sldably against the rear wall of the feed conduit 113 by guides (not illustrated). The curved bottom wall 176 of the back head and curtain portions 117, 119 constitute the back wall of the inlet opening. Due to the hinged curtain portions, the back wall is self-adjusting with the back head 75. To avoid air binding at the top of the inlet a vent tube 177 is led from an opening in the head Wall 176, `a1; its highest point, through and above the top wall of the head 75. Otherwise the inlet could not rise above the bottom level of the adjustable circle.

The stock rises in the inlet opening S9 and flows between the inner and outer circles, in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGURES 3, 4, and over the front head which constitutes a making board. The curve 61 is designed with reference to the front head 63 to bring the ow quietly over the head. The stock then ilows between the inner circle and the mold in the direction of the arrows and rises to a height predetermined by a circulating stock dam. The circulating stock dam utilized is similar to that shown in U.S. Patent 2,658,428 and accordingly is only shown diagrammatically in FIGURES 3 and 4. This dam 98 can also be adjusted externally with a visual scale provided on the exterior of the vat (not illustrated).

As will be understood by reference to the preceding description and accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a means of readily adjusting the front head, back head or bottom portion of the inner vat circle selectively and individually without the necessity of stopping the machine. Since all the actuating control members are disposed externally of the vat and means provided for a visual indication of the adjustments made, it is a simple matter to regulate machine operation without any internal adjustments. While this was possible in the construction shown in United States Patent 2,658,428 the present arrangement is considerably less complicated in structure and moreover eliminates the undesirable pockets created by the rods and open ended heads utilized in the prior construction.

I claim:

1. A cylinder machine comprising a vat having end and side walls, a mold journalled for rotation on a horizontal axis in the vat, a back head extending transversely of and adjacent one end of the vat, a similarly extending front head adjacent the other end of the vat, an inner circle of uniformly flexible sheet metal having its ends secured to and supported exclusively by said heads, the ends of said heads adjacent the side walls of said vat having pins protruding therefrom through slots provided in the side walls of said vat with said pins acting as keys and said vat side wall slots acting as keyways guiding the travel of said keys and means for selectively adjusting said heads and the intervening circle portion relative to said mold, said adjusting means including actuating members mounted on the exterior of said vat and operatively contacting said protruding circle head pins.

2. A cylinder machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjusting members comprise threaded shafts mounted for axial travel on the exterior of said vat and means to actuate said shafts.

3. In a cylinder machine, a vat having end and side Walls, a fixed outer circle in the vat, an inner circle of flexible sheet material having on one end a back head extending transversely of and adjacent one end of the Vat, a similarly extending front head at the other end 0f said Vat circle and disposed adjacent the other end of said vat, said front and back heads having closure plates at each side and supporting pins extending from said head closure plates to the exterior of said vat through slots provided in said vat side Walls with said pins acting as keys and said Vat side wall slots acting as keyways guiding the travel of said keys, said inner circle being supported exclusively by said front and back heads, and pin moving means located on the exterior of said vat and contacting said supporting pins adapted to selectively adjust said front and hack heads and the intervening portion of said circle.

4. In a cylinder machine, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pin moving means comprises threaded shafts mounted for axial travel on the exterior of said vat, coupling means on said shafts engaging the portions of said supporting pins protruding exteriorly of saidvat, and means to actuate said shafts.

References Cited in the rile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,005,839 Edge June 25, 1935 2,402,063 Malkin June 1l, 1946 2,658,428 Goldsmith Nov. 10, 1953 2,744,452 Niks May 8, 1956 

